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Depression in college.....GRADES

I really think I'm starting to feel depressed. It's my first semester and my grades are worth crap. I don't waste my time partying and drinking, and I don't socialize too much, so I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

In Spanish, my grade is looking like a B+. B+ average on the quizzes, B+'s on the last two writing essays. ****. Final project left (worth quite a bit), a few quizzes, a final.

In French, my grade is an A-. Shoot me, it's French 100. I shouldn't even be trying. We have 3 more tests, an oral exam (or two?), and a final.

In anthro.....B+/A-ish. Eff. I did extra credit, so that should help a bit. We have two more tests and a final.

My seminar - I'm not sure tbh. The grade is largely based on participation and I participate a lot.

Eff my life. I really do feel depressed.

Do any of you guys feel my frustration? Or all you all getting perfect grades? It looks like my dreams of a 4.0 are over.

Replies to: Depression in college.....GRADES

You're probably not going to get a 4.0. It is statistically unlikely anyway.

Of course I'm frustrated, but I don't think you have it that bad.

The class average for one of my exams was 49. A recent one 27. There is no curve. There are people who showed up and straight up got a 1 on their exam or a 0. My probability professor can strike the fear of god into you when he puts up a stem and leaf plot and you're wondering which one is you.

I'm praying for B's, although I just got an A on my last test in physics and the average was a D for my physics class. Now I'm not trying as hard as I should be, but you should really not be discouraged if you're hitting B+/A- range.

I agree ... that's a rather admirable college academic performance - Remember, when competing for graduate school admission, evaluators won't draw as much of a distinction between a student who earns a 3.4 and that of someone with the likes of a 3.7 (they tend to lean towards work-related experience in the field of interest).

Even then, grades are only reflective of your academic performance ... there are many other facets of achievement of far more value, in terms of having a positive affect on society and your circle of peers (ripple affect).

However, it wouldn't hurt to see a psychologist ... perfection is never attainable, humans have a natural tendency for making mistakes! It's unwarranted to quell over an otherwise unimportant oversight.

Yeah, don't expect college to be like high school grade-wise. Classes are kicking me, I'm just hoping I can get at least a C so I don't have to retake any classes, Engineering's tough. Though I admit, first year is the toughest since there's all these adjustments going on. Just do your best. At least your best is good enough to get you B's and A's.

I dunno to me it's kinda insulting when you draw this link as if "I wish i had better grades" is the same as "I don't care about grades (or anything) and have a hard time just getting out the door." The latter is what depression is. What you're struggling with is you think this is high school still or that simply trying hard means you'll always get what you want.

I got a B on a recent paper, but do i lament it? No, i got a lot of solid feedback to go off for the next paper. Learn from your mistakes instead of let them drag you down.

Not unless you're trying to transfer to a Top 50 university like UT Austin, UCLA, or Michigan, let alone any Ivy League schools. I doubt they accept anyone below 3.5+ GPA.

Now if you're in said university, B's are not bad. But for those like me trying to transfer out of a community college, B's will only limit your options for transfer (especally if your community college's B is a 3 regardless of if it's 80 or 89).

Getting As in college is significantly harder than in high school. High school grades were inflated; most colleges do not do this. Also, you likely enrolled in a college where more of your peers are on the same level as you are; college is a very competitive environment. It sounds like you're just shy of a 3.5, which isn't bad. Unless you're planning to transfer to a different school (as astarisborn94) or you would like to continue to grad school, don't freak out about B+'s. Many people end up worse than you do. However, a 4.0 GPA is not impossible. It just takes a different mindset and attitude. (I do know of a senior in my undergrad program who has a 4.0)

However, it's great that you care so much; just don't stress about it. If you would like to improve, there's the standard advice of going to office hours or studying with classmates. This can help you discover material that you need to know better. Also, your performance could indicate that your study methods could use some refinement. What are better ways you can study? Keep in mind it's only going to get harder from here on out. (no pressure!)

rbouwens, I have an idea of what you're going through. In my transition from elementary to high school, my grades didn't change at all. I was still a straight-A student. Even in community college I basically averaged a 4.0 GPA.

Then I moved away from home for university where I am now... and I'm a B student. I failed my first three quizzes in my History 101 class... 101! That's introductory level!

The first semester at college probably sucks for everyone, except perhaps those who went to preparatory school or are straight up geniuses. It upset me to find that I was having more trouble getting good grades than any other time in my life.

What are you doing wrong? I don't know if there IS anything you're doing wrong. College is a different animal from high school. Very different. But if I may say a word of encouragement, that doesn't mean you can't conquer college. It's very unlikely you just "slipped in between the cracks." 4.0? Maybe not. But you can still do good. I think it comes down to adjusting to how college is, learning what needs to be done to do well in it. It's something I'm still coming to understand myself, and my semester ends in a month.

I'm worried because I want to go to grad school. I'm an anthro major, so I'm not paying money to go to a bottom-tier one. My seminar teacher emailed me and I'm between a B+ and an A-. ***. Soooo ****ed right now.

Ok, worst-case scenario, say I come out of 1st semester with a 3.3. That's a B+ average. Obviously I want to get into a great grad school, so I'll be shooting for a 3.8+. Is that next to impossible to improve that much?

Ugh, I don't want to be a B student. I'm not one of those people who gets drunk on the weekends or plays video games all day. ***.

I mean, are there any grad schools that would accept a 3.3? Any worth shelling out money for, anyway?

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